Treatment Options for Heartworm

When a dog is diagnosed with heartworm disease, it is too late for heartworm prevention. Even some treatments can only kill the new larvae, but it cannot kill the adult heartworms already present. Therefore, the dog's condition is continually progressing, even with that treatment. Talk to your veterinarian about your dog's age and the stage of disease your dog is in. Those two factors play an important role in your decision about the dog's treatment.

  1. Ivermectin

    • Ivermectin is an expensive treatment that many cannot afford.

      An ivermectin-based medication may be a treatment option for your dog if your dog has a serious heartworm condition. Invermectin kills heartworm larvae and sterilizes adult larvae. It doesn't kill adult worms. It only shortens the adult worm lifespans. Ivermectin contains the drug melarsomine. Melarsomine treatment for canines is a treatment that is very dangerous and could possibly poison your dog. This treatment is an "arsenic-based compound," according to Vetinfo.com. The medication is injected into the dog's lumbar muscle. The first series of shots is two injections that are 24 hours apart. The second option is to give the dog three injections. The second injection would be given 30 days after the first and then the third one would be given 24 hours after the second injection, according to Vetinfo.com. When dead heartworms accumulate in the lungs, the condition damages the lungs of the canine as well as the heart. In some cases, melarsomine treatment must be repeated and the risk of arsenic poisoning is a possibility. Dogs don't always survive this treatment option.

    Immiticide

    • If your dog begins to run a fever, cough or have a nose bleed, take her to the vet.

      Melarsomine dihydrochloride (Immiticide by Merial) can be used by treating the dog in two or three doses. The stage of heartworm infection that your dog is in will depend upon the dosage that the dog will need. The dog will receive an injection in the lower back muscle and usually will receive a pain medication. The dog needs to be confined after this treatment. No exercise or walks will be allowed after this treatment, to allow the heart to have a rest period. This is the only product available today for the treatment of adult heartworms.

    Heartgard and Tri-Heart

    • Treating your dog with a monthly preventative is vital to his health.

      The Heartgard and Tri-Heart products can kill heartworm larvae and prevent heartworms from growing. These treatments need to be given to your dog as a monthly preventative.

    No Treatment

    • Prior to any treatment, the dog must be assessed for heartworm disease risk.

      No treatment is always an option if your dog is seriously ill with heartworms and your veterinarian feels the dog will not survive the treatment. Discuss the options with your veterinarian.